words Wal Reid/ photos Brad Holland

Award-winning, multi-platinum artist and producer Tiki Taane was on fire last night at Kingsland’s Atomic Coffee roasters to launch his latest single No Place Like Home a catchy little number that celebrates hometown New Zealand and includes everyone from famous friends to the local Tahatai Coast School choir.  Its a song that’s been likened to being the next ‘Always On My Mind’ as Taane says “ That was a freak song (laughter) But I love the song its got a good community kaupapa”

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Penned in appreciation of the places that mean the most to him, ‘No Place Like Home’ is available from today Friday 5 February, and in an acknowledgement of local community, all proceeds will be donated to Tauranga charity Good Neighbour. “ If kids want to talk about drugs I’ll go there. I’m not going to lie, some of my best songs i wrote was when I was high but I’ll tell them I burned out, its about being real” He says

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Playing songs in an intimate ‘pop-up’ environment seemed a little strange if not out of place for the multiple NZ Music Award singer, however ,the amiable tattooed artist wasted no time singing a couple of warm up tunes including Always On My Mind & Long time before playing his new single No Place Like Home.  Switching between pedals and drums building his rapport with the crowd he pondered “Music will give you an amazing life if you put everything into it and cut out the crap”  before doing a raucous version of Music Has Saved Me

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The song was also a community effort, with Tiki bringing in a diverse range of friends including Ria Hall, Michael Barker & Grant Haua from Swamp Thing, Ara Adams Tamatea, Pouroto Ngaropo, Justus & The Animato String Quartet, Tahatai Coast School and Jo’el Komene to feature on the project.

No Place Like Home is available for purchase from www.tikidub.com and streaming across all digital platforms now.

Good Neighbour works to transform communities through neighbourhood projects, food rescue and community gardens. Further information and donations can be made at www.goodneighbour.co.nz.